I. 



HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM 



total cost an estimate may be made of the future rate of growth and of 

 the final cost of the completed building. 



The diagram on page 147, exhibits the years in which successive 

 additions have been made. 



On the supposition that owing to increasing efficiency in mechanical 

 appliances construction in the future will not be more expensive than 

 in the past, the following tabular statement enables us to form an ap- 

 proximate forecast: 



Units. Halls. Total Cost. 



Constructed 1877-1909 8 40 $4,838,000 



Estimated 

 Cost 



Extension now being planned 6 30 $3,900,000 



North half of Museum, not yet planned 8 40 $5,200,000 



Total 22 110 $13,93S,000 



These figures show that during the past thirty-two years, that is, 

 between 1877 and 1909, the Museum has completed eight units, or a 

 unit every four years.* If the city continues to erect the building at the 

 same rate, the extension now being planned, comprising six units, will 

 be completed in the next twenty-four years. The entire Museum 

 will cost between $14,000,000 and $15,000,000. 



It is interesting to compare these figures with those of other 

 expenditures or appropriations by the city in recent years. 



The Speedway $3,095,000 



New York Public Library 9,000,000 



Metropolitan Museum of Art 4,612,000 



New Municipal Building 12,000,000 



Hall of Records 5,613,699 



In the past the rate of growth of the building provided by the city 

 has been in response to the crowding of collections ; that is, the Trustees 

 have not asked the city to build in advance of their needs, but have 

 acquired collections and then asked the city to erect adequate space 

 for them. 



The stored collections of the Museum if properly displayed will fill a 

 very considerable space, perhaps a half of the extension now being 

 planned. The rate of increase of collections has been steadily growing 

 during the past thirty-two years, therefore we are acquiring collections 



* The building, equipment, casing and furnishing of the average unit has been $050,000. 



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